WWE Smackdown Live Match Ratings And Notes For 4/17/18 From Sean Ross Sapp

AJ Styles calls out Shinsuke Nakamura, who isn't there. According to an interrupting Aiden English and Rusev. Styles and Rusev pick a fight with each other, and it's on.

The total absence of sense to put the most popular guy against your top babyface. Almost immediately Rusev is put in a Calf Crusher, and Aiden English interferes and causes a DQ.

Daniel Bryan makes the save. The VEGAN community!?

Backstage, Paige makes a tag team match between the two sides, and does a totally miserable Teddy Long impersonation. I guess to be fair, every heel in the history of Smackdown debuted on Raw last night

Shelton Benjamin comes out and says his Twitter was hacked last night and he'd never say anything nice about Chad Gable. He wants title opportunities that he deserves.

Randy Orton comes out, but he's interrupted by Jeff Hardy.

This is a good match with two guys who know each other well. Shelton's run-up kick to a top-roped Jeff Hardy is great.

Jeff Hardy hits Whisper in the Wind ONLY because Shelton Benjamin is a total pro who runs into it. We get the classic Shelton dragon whip as well.

Hardy hits a Swanton for the win. Good shit, pal.

Harper defeated Jey Uso

This is really abrupt. A big fight breaks out at ringside, Harper cracks Jey with the Discus Lariat and wins.

Naomi comes out to stop the beating, screaming and squalling.

Samoa Joe defeated Sin Cara

Well, Sin Cara got on Smackdown Live. He LEARNED today.

Sin Cara takes such a beat down that he just falls down. Conquina Clutch.

Samoa Joe says he's going to win the Intercontinental Championship in Saudi Arabia, and rip the Universal Championship from Roman Reigns' waist at Backlash. Joe cuts an awesome promo. He calls this the land of handouts.

Backstage Crappenings

Sanity is coming. I'd rather Killian be left in NXT and tag with Lars, but the other three are more than ready to come to the main roster. Nikki not coming up with these guys is flat out stupid. She's been left off TV forever and is a primary reason the act is even over.